Closest/Farthest travel in 1st Round Games.

[ericd7633]

I always find it interesting how far/close a team is to home in their opening game.

The top 5 Farthest teams travelling are:
1. VCU - Portland, OR: 2,861 miles away
2. Georgetown - Portland, OR: 2,802 miles away
3. Davidson - Seattle, WA: 2,802 miles away
4. Ohio State - Portland, OR: 2,435 miles away
5. San Diego State - Charlotte, NC: 2,386 miles away

The top 5 Closest teams travelling are:
1. Kentucky - Louisville, KY: 78 miles away
2. Cincinnati - Louisville, KY: 99 miles away
3. Duke - Charlotte, NC: 143 miles
4. Purdue - Louisville, KY: 180 miles away
5. WVU - Columbus, OH: 205 miles away

The Thursday evening session in Louisville should be simply insane. 3 of the 4 teams within 180 miles of Louisville. KFC Yum! Center should be packed.

By contrast the Thursday afternoon session in Portland could have a less than spectacular atmosphere. Both VCU and Ohio State are over 2,400 miles away. Texas Southern is over 2,200 miles away, and Arizona isn't exactly close either being over 1,400 miles away. With that said, Arizona should have a majority of the fans there.

One team that has a distinct travel advantage is Eastern Washington playing Georgetown, in Portland, OR. EWU is only 340 miles away from Portland, while G-Town has to travel across the country. Also, it's an approx. 10:00 pm tip time. Georgetown's latest tip time this year was 9:30.

We'll see if the travelling plays a part in any of the outcomes.

 

[WhiteMamba]

Not sure if Ohio fans travel for hoops like they do for football. Or even close to for that matter.

But something tells me they will represent p good.

 

[gordontrue]

I used to make a bracket every year where every game is decided by whoever is playing closest to home. I'm too lazy/busy this year.

Its a method that is usually more accurate than you expect... thanks in large part to the fact that the top teams gets geography consideration from the committee.

 

[ericd7633]

Not sure if Ohio fans travel for hoops like they do for football. Or even close to for that matter.

But something tells me they will represent p good.

They definitely don't travel as well for basketball as they do football. Add in what's been a mediocre year(relative to the last decade under Matta) and I'm not sure you'll be seeing buckeye fans in droves out in Portland. I could be wrong though and maybe they surprise me.

 

[jonvi]

>
Closest/Farthest travel in 1st Round Games.


This is the major reason SU opted out of the tournament this year. They knew they would have to leave NY State.

 

[The Derski]

OSU fans travel pretty well for bball. Also there are OSU alum and bandwagoners in every state.

 

[daglafe]

The top 5 Closest teams travelling are:
1. Kentucky - Louisville, KY: 78 miles away
2. Cincinnati - Louisville, KY: 99 miles away
3. Duke - Charlotte, NC: 143 miles
4. Purdue - Louisville, KY: 180 miles away
5. WVU - Columbus, OH: 205 miles away

If you count the first 4, Dayton plays on their home court.

 

[gordontrue]

An interesting study from a few years ago...

Concludes that favorites really benefit from being close to home while underdogs are much less affected by distance from home.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Portland will be Wildcat country, be ready Mamba.